Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-10
DIR. W. W. BENNETT.
DEATH OF A NOTED MAN OF THE
METHODIST CHURCH.
His Early Training-His Services ss kei'
tor, College President, and Minis
ter Of the Gospel.


He died yesterday, the 9th, at 1:l5 T. NJ
All things considered, DR.. Bennett was,
perhaps. the most distinguished and best
known minister OF the Methodist deuomi-
nation in this State. The pressure under
Which this Is written precludes anything
like a full aud faithful sketch OF his llfe or
ANALYSIS Of his character, and permits only
a brief RESUME OF his career.
William Wallace Bennett was born in this
city February "a, 1921. He was reared
under Methodist teachings and influences.
In early life he removed to Portsmouth,
Va, where be proiessed faith In Christ and
ioined The Methodist Church in.lS39. 10
1S42 he was received on trial In the Nir-
giuia Annual Conference, and as pastor
successiyely served the Louisa, BEDFORD,
and Powhatan circuits, the Charloitcsville
station, the Southern Methodist church IN
Washington, ID. &. tof which he was the
first pastor for four years) presiding elder
OF the Washington district, on the Lou
doun and Nottoway circuits, and pastor o.
Union.StatioD and Centenary churches oil
this city. In 1868 be WIS appointed supef-
intendept OF the Soldiers Tract AsSocis.
ton, and remained chaplain IN the Coz
federate army until the close of the var
While superintendent OF the Tract Asso'
citation, at greet personal risk. h. ran tae
blockade from Charleston, ;. q, To procure
a supply OF Bibles and Tcstaments for the
Confede rate soldiers.
I'm 1850 he entered the University OF
Virginia, ana graduated IN several OF rs
schools. In 1859 he was elected chapi du
Of that institution, and. while discbargina
The duties Of that position, he attempted
also 10 pursue the studies Of some Of IL
schools, which caused a failure In hi
health and compelled him to resign tn
cbapaincv.
I'm 1867 Randolph. Macon College con
ielrcd on him the degree. cduSd honortS. OF
Doctor Dir.nitutiS-an honor which has
seldom been more worthiiy bestowed on
any man.
In this same year he assumed edtorlal
control Of the Richmond Chr1Stian AdU0'
cate. During the war that paper had sus.
n6nded publication, and pecunlarilS 1t had
upyer been q paying concern, but under the
skilful management OF DR.. Bennett the
subscription.IIst became large and made II
more than self sustaining. The influence
OF the paper for good wa greatly enhanced,
and il was placed on q sound financial
basis.
In 1877 he resigned the editorial control
Of the Advocate into the hands OF Rev. j.
j. LafI,riy, d. L., he having been elected
president OF Randolph Macon College, the
oldest Methodist institution OF collegiate
grade. Here he labOred with unexcelled
fidelity, teaching his classes, speaking ~
behalf Of higher education u. occasion Of
feted. travelling long distances in behalf OF
bis institution, and putting forth all hl'
powers TO make his presidency success
HIS efforts were not in vain, and probably
no period OF his life contributed more tc
the welfare OF his Church and state thai
The eight years OF his control OF this ln.ti
tuition OF learning. And II Is not imprO6a
bic that here he, like the lamented Duncan
contracted the seeds Of the disease which
hurried him to what man might call pre-
| mature grave.
DR.. Bennett was never an idle man. lr
addition 10 his pulpit labOrs, his routln'
duties, and many fugitive pieces, he wa
the author Of several books Of permanen
value. He wrote Memorials OF MetbO
dlsm in Virginia.: "a Narrative Of thu
Great Revival in the Southern Armie
During the Late Civil War Between tn
States; a History OF Metbodism for On
Young People" Perhaps bis contribu-
! tions 10 literature might have been NOR
numerous aud of even greater value ha(
not his library, with many valuable mann
scripts, been destroyed In the great fire II
Richmond at the close OF the war.
1t is needless TO say that the subject o
| this sketch was a leading man In mis- denOmi
nation. He was one whom his brethren de
lighted to honor. Since 1858 he was
member OF every General Conference 0
his Church, and was several times th
| chairman Of bis delegation. II the write
Is not much mistaken he was also delegat
| to the Methodist Ecumenical Conferenc
which assembled in London a few year
| ago. With only two or three exceptions h
was from the shoulders uD regarded a
taller than any Of the Amy Of Israel in tn
Virginia Conference.
Physically Or. Bennett was q SUPER
specimen Of manhood. Tall, robu>, com
mqnding in appearance, be would have at
iracied attention anywhere. AID was almOs
the ideal OF a leader.
He WAS rot what one would call mag
netic man, yet be had hosts Of friends, VIII
were attsched 10 hin as il by hooks q
steel. While reticent IN general company
among those who commanded his fun con
| fdence be was az trustful a child, ani
would freely pour out the feelings of hi
| heart. There was 3n undercurreni OF e
| nisl humor, and, at rare times, ilo~ o
| undisguised wit, repdrtee, and fun. tha
made him the centre OF the social circle
He was thoroughly honest in his cOnyic
| lions and bold in their expression. He hat
no policy, il policy meant the suppression
| OF views that he felt should be uttered
| Dnty was the star ever above his horizon
| on which he fixed bis eyes with steadfas
| gaze. and in the hight Of which he alway
| endeayored to walk. For Duty he wa
| ready at all times 10 make any sacritc
| demanded. His absolute integrity non
| doubted. II Is doubtful If he had an enem
| on earth.
As preacher DR.. Bennett was alvay
| GOOD. He entered fully into the merits q
| bis subject. His thought was proioun'
| snd his statement OF truth ALWAYS clear
| But he was at bis best only on grand occl
| sions. While he would not ordinarily b
| called an orator, for he dealt little 10 th
| tricks OF elocution or the mere tinsel o
| rhetoric in his sermons, yet let him bccOm
| fully aroused in the presence OF larg
| audience and completely absorbed 10y hi
| subject, and he was absolutely oyerwhelm
| ing. He swayed his congregation at will
| and even unconsciously TO himself. The
| he thought not Of himself nor OF them. III
| was onlg the ambassador for Christ. lie ha
| a living message for living men. The grea
| themes OF the Gospel became 10 him eterna
| yerities, and he made them appear such 4
| his hearers.
About thirty years ogo DR.. Bennett maj
| ried Miss V. l.. Langster, OF AleXlndria
| who survives HIM with six children-thre
| girls and three bows.
| In June, 1886. DR.. Bennett, on accOun
| Of i'll health, resigned the presidency q
| Randolph Macon College. At the Confer
| ence in PETERSBURG in November, 1885, b
\ was the guest OF the writer. He appeafet
4 TO be I'm his usual health. During the ses
| sion he complained OF a slight eruption
| near his collar bone, but neither he nor IN
| pby sician consulted thought 1t serious.
1 proved, nevertheless, to be the he2inniD
/ of the end. Before the close OF the con
| ference he returned TO his home, in Ash
land. Last summer, after speading som
| weeks at the springs, he became great
encouraged, and the hopes OF his friend
| revived. All improvement, however
| proved TO be only temporary, and the dis
ease steadily progressed to fatal termina
tion. His last days were not only peaceful
but full Of triumph. At one time he said
al am wonderfully quickened into htghe
spiritual life" Again he said: "Not
cloud in my sky, not the semblance OF
shadow"
| William Wallace Bennett needs no eulC
| gy. He has written his own epitaph b
"servipg his own generation by the wi
OF God" Now, he has fallen on sleel
"seryant of God, well done!"
/ His funeral services will take nlace frOr